Motor-vehicle.



R. J. NIUHOLS.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1911.

1,045,067, PatenteaN0v.19,1912.

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ROBERT J. NICHOLS, OF BERLIN, GEORGIA.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.'

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

Application filed Mar 29, 1911. Serial No. 630,169.

1b aZlfw/Lom it may concern.'

Be itknown that l, Ronnn'r J. Nrc'nohs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Berlin, in the county of Colquitt and State of Georgia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in l\/Iotor-Vel1icles, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to unprovements in motor vehicles, and isdesigned as a special driving device therefor.

The object of the invention is the provision of mechanism which issimple in operation, for extricating automobiles from stalled positions,due to the condition of bad roads or highways.

By means of my device I am enabled to pull a stalled automobile from itsposition,

with little loss of time, and comparatively slight trouble, by powerfrom the engine of the automobile.l

.Further merits and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe disclosure in the following specification taken in connection withthe drawings.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one example ofthephysical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the bestmode I have so far devised for the practical application of theprinciples.

Figure 1 illustrates so much of an automobile as is necessary toexemplify my invention, with the novel features of the inventiondisclosed therewith. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail View partly insection, of a shiftable counter shaft and connections, forming part oftheinvention. Fig. 3 is an enlarged View showing a drum with a stakeattached thereto, and Fig. 4 is an end view ofFig. 3.

My invention is applicable for use in connection with any of thestandard types 0f automobiles, and as an y exemplification I haveillustrated in Fig. 1 a portion of an automobile comprising the frontwheels 1, the axle 2, engine 3, and-ily wheel 4, these parts beingsupported as usual on the frame 5. I

In t-he preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the attachment is operatedfrom the `fly wheel 4 of the engine 3, and to this end I other end ofthe shaft is supported in bear ing block 10. The shaft and block aremovable, t-he block being slidably supported' on the bracket 1l which isattached to the car frame, as shown, cured in the bracket by means ofbo-lts'12, which are assed through and movable in the guide sllcit 13 inthelbracket.

The shaft'7 is movable on its end bearing 9 as a pivot, and toaccomplish 'this 'move'- ment I utilize the bell crank lever 111 whichis attached at one end to sleeve 15 which surrounds the collar 16 on theshaft 7. The lever 1li is pivo-ted at 17 on the bracketlS, and vits freeend 19 has connected thereto the draw rod 20, which is in turn pivotedto the shift lever 21 pivotally supported upon the frame of theautomobile.

A bevel driving gear 22 is 'carried on the shaft 7 and this gear isadapted to drive the complementary gear 23 secured on the drum 24, whichlatter is splined on the transverse shaft 25. Shaft 25 is supported atthe front of the automobile in bearings secured to t-he frame of themachine, at 26, 26, and a ratchet wheel 27, and pawl28 are provided toprevent reverse movement of the shaft, as will be described.

A cord or rope 29 is adapted to wind and unwind about the drum, and ametallic stake or peg 30 is also a part of the equipment of the device.For convenience in carrying the stake and preventing the unwinding ofthe rope, I provide recesses 31 in the heads of the drum, for thereception of the stake, and flat springs 32 serve to hold the stakewithin thev recesses, While the pivoted paw] 33, which is passed throughan opening 34e-in the end of thestake, prevents lateral displacementthereof. "While not in use, the rope is held in position on.the` drum,by means of the retained stake, as shown in Fig. 3. In this position theparts are out of the way and do not interfere with the movement of theautomobile.

Should the machine become stalled in a sandy or muddy road', the stake,with the rope attached thereto, is freed from the drum, and carried asuitable distance ahead of the machine, and there driven into the road.The counter shaft 7, which in normal condition, is held away fromoperative position by the lever 21, is now moved by said lever into theposition shown in Fig. 1, with the friction wheel n engagement with thi;

and the block may be sefly Wheel of the automobile, and the bearinglblock 10 heldlby its bolts. The engine is now started, 'andthe motionof the ily wheel is transmitted through the friction Wheel,

shaft 7, and the b evel'gea'rs to the Winding drum. The rotation of thedrum causes the rope to Wind thereon, and the machine is pulled towardthe stake,l thus cxtricating thevehicleffroln the sandy or muddyroadbed.

From the above description taken in connection with the 'drawings `it isevident that vI have provlded a device'or attachment for automobileswhich` fulfils the purposes or objects set forth, and .While l haveillustrated one complete example of the invention, what I- claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is A The combination withtheframe and fly fwheel of an automobile, of a shaft having a Sphericalhead and bearing therefor', and a second bearing including a movableblock for theshaft; a' friction Wheel, a collar, and

a sleeve on the shaft and actuating means attached to said sleevewhereby the friction wheel may be moved into engagement with the flyWheel; a second shaft, a WindingV drum thereon, and a pair of bevelgears connectingthe two shafts.

In testimony whereof I a'tiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

Witnesses C. E. DAVIS,

FLAviUs A. ALDERMAN.

ROBERT J..fNoHoLs. Y.

